Condyle-indicator.



e. a. sNow. CONDYLE INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, I916.

1,21 1,254; Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

enonen' s. snow, or LONG BnAc'H, CALIFORNIA.

CONDYLE-INDICATOR.

Specification of- Letterslatent.

Patente d J an. 2-, 191 7.

Application-filed September 25, 1916. Serial No. 122,024.

To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that L Gnonon. B. SNOW, of

the city of Long Beach, in the county of Los I Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful improve ments in condyle-indicators for locating the condyles of the mandible and thereby facilitating the use of the face-bow, the latter having heretofore been made the subject of Letters Patent of the United States, numbered 621,531 and dated July 25, 1899, reference to which is hereby made.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the locating of the condyles of the mandible, an important point in the use of the face bow; and it consists in the device which will be hereinafter described, and its application to the cheek of the person upon whom the face bow is to be used. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a profile view of the head of a person showing an indicator in its place upon the cheek. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a face bow attached to the indicators, one of which is used on each side of the face. Fig. 3 is an edge, or side view of the indicator. Fig. 4 shows the indicator in plan.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

The body 1 of the indicator consists of a slip of any stifi' material, thin enough to be bent and to retain its shape, and adapted to the curve of the cheek. One end may be tapered, as shown at 2, and this end is to be pointed toward the outer canthus of the eye when the indicator is applied to the face. The other end, 3, is bent into a bayonet shape, to pass over the tragus of the ear when the body of the indicator touches the cheek. The nut 4 is attached to this bayonet part, near its end, and through it passes the threaded extension 5 of the bulb 6, which passes into the auditory meatus, and is of such a size as to completely fill it. The outer end of the extension terminates in the knurled head 7 by means of which it may be rotated, and the bulb 6 thereby adjusted to its position in the auditory meatus.

The condyles of the mandible are situated in the glenoid fossae of the temporal bones; they have curved surfaces which rotate in the glenoid fossae as the mouth is opened or closed, the centers of motion being at the center of their curved surfaces. This center will be found to be about half an inch in front of the auditory meatus, on a line withitsfioor. Over this point, in the body 1. of the indicator, is attached a small cylindrical projection 8, which will be received into the socket in the end of the condyle bar of the face bow. The latter can be sprung over these projections and retained thereon, in the same manner that it is sprung onto the similar projections upon the joints of the articulator, when it is attached thereto.

The condyle bars of the face bow being adjusted to touch the cheeks of the patient, and to be equidistant from the bow ends, and the mouthpiece 9 of the face bow being attached to the upper trial plate, the latter is placed in the patients mouth, the indicators are attached to the cheeks by pressing the plugs 6 into the auditory meatus, the ends 2 being directed toward the external canthi ofv the eyes, the clamp 10 of the face bow is passed over the stem 9 of the mouthpiece, and the condyle bars are sprung onto the projections 8, which are situated directly over the condyles of the mandible. The clamp of the face bow is then tightened, and it, its mouth iece, and the trial plate are then remove I and then transferred to the articulator in the usual manner.

By the use of the indicators, the dentist is enabled to avoid the necessity of finding the locations of the condyles and marking their positions on the cheeks of the patient, and he is thus enabled to be more expeditious about his work, and to save his patient some annoyance.

I prefer that the plug 6 shall be adj ustably connected to the body 1' of the indicator, either as shown, or in some other way which a mechanic may think of, and I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown, as the plug 6 may be rigidly attached to the body 1 of the indicator without departing from the spirit of my invention. Or the indicator may be supported by a band of metal or other material passing over the head. This is a very obvious device, but I do not deem it necessary. The external canthus of the eye is mentioned as the point to which the indicator is directed, but it is obvious that some other feature of the face may be used for this purpose; the root of the nasal septum, for example. I prefer the canthus, because it is nearer the auditory meatus, and the upper surface of the cheek is flatter than the lower.

and nearly I claim as my invention: mandibular condyle; substantially as de- A condyle indicator, consisting of a strip scribed. of stiff material capable of being'bent and In testimony whereof I have hereunto set retaining its shape and adapted to fit the my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 5 cheek and to pass over the tragus of the ear, nesses.

a bulbous part attached thereto, and filling the auditory meatus, and an eminence pro- GEORGE Y SNOW jecting from the surface of the said strip Witnesses: suitable for the removable attachment of a C. J. WALKER, 10 face bow, and situated directly over the M. E. RICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentw Washington,D G. 

